What Song for Your Funeral?

Subject: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 04:36 AM

As the years flash by, and even as the present one nose-dives into damp dark autumn, once again one's thoughts turn to one's inevitable and all-too imminent demise and the sort of send-off worthy of a wasted life such as my own. Being a Godless & Moral Vagabond, I envisage a grim municipal crematorium with but few, if any, reluctant mourners. I want no coffin, nor the remotest shred of religiosity or the merest hint of a life hereafter; I want no words other than obscene jokes, and only a short piece of recorded music to be played as my beautiful corpse is born away to be charred and pulverised into the ashes which, as per instruction, will be mixed with a bottle Newcastle Brown Ale in a half pint glass and poured into the River Tyne off the end of Tynemouth pier. If not Newcastle Brown Ale, then Lucozade will do; if not Tynemouth pier, the North Pier in Blackpool will suffice.

Question is though, what music? Well, I reckon something everyone can enjoy, the sort of stuff the whole world has in common, even me; the sort of stuff that brings tears to my eyes when I hear it on the radio. I've boiled it down to four essentials: You Wear it Well by Rod Stewart, Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) by Cockney Rebel, Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears and Regret by New Order. Any one of these would do.

What about you?

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 04:47 AM

Dunno - something to dance to. Faithless - 'God is a DJ' maybe.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Liberty Boy
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 04:52 AM

Mo Gille Mear

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 04:55 AM

Just thought of another. In fact this has to be the one - the greatest song of all time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylOCIP54PIQ

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 05:28 AM

"Hit the Road Jack"

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,PL
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 05:51 AM

Joy of Living

Ewan MacColl


Farewell you northern hills, you mountains all goodbye
Moorland and stony ridges, crags and peaks goodbye
Glyder Fach farewell, Cul Beag, Scafell, cloud-bearing Suilven
Sun warmed rock and the cold of Bleaklow's frozen sea
The snow and the wind and the rain of hills and mountains
Days in the sun and the tempered wind and the air like wine
And you drink and you drink till you're drunk
On the joy of living

Farewell to you my love, my time is almost done
Lie in my arms once more until the darkness comes
You filled all my days, held the night at bay, dearest companion
Years pass by and they're gone with the speed of birds in flight
Our life like the verse of a song heard in the mountains
Give me your hand then love and join your voice with mine
We'll sing of the hurt and pain
And the joy of living

Farewell to you my chicks, soon you must fly alone
Flesh of my flesh, my future life, bone of my bone
May your wings be strong, may your days be long, safe be your journey
Each of you bears inside of you the gift of love
May it bring you light and warmth and the pleasure of giving
Eagerly savour each new day and the taste of its mouth
Never lose sight of the thrill
And the joy of living

Take me to some high place of heather, rock and ling
Scatter my dust and ashes, feed me to the wind
So that I will be part of all you see, the air you are breathing
I'll be part of the curlew's cry and the soaring hawk
The blue milkwort and the sundew hung with diamonds
I'll be riding the gentle wind that blows through your hair
Reminding you how we shared
In the joy of living

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 06:00 AM

"Beyond the Distant Hills"

CC

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 06:01 AM

"I Keep You in My Heart" by Bruce Murdoch

I hear your voice so clear
I feel your presence near
I hold your memory dear
I keep you in my heart

In the darkest space
I have never lost the trace
I can always see your face
I keep you in my heart

I'll always hold your hand
Leaving wasn't what I planned
I pray you'll understand
I keep you in my heart

Songs in a poet's rhyme
Locked in church bells chime
Written on a page of time
I keep you in my heart

There is no dark or light
There is no wrong or right
There is no day or night
I keep you in my heart

Voices in the rain
Echo's soft refrain
Dimensions can't explain
I keep you in my heart

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Bobert
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 10:49 AM

"I'll Fly Away" is actually a hymm but has been covered over the years by many a band or folk singer...

Works fine fir me...

B~

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 11:03 AM

I saw two shooting stars last night
I wished on them
But they were only satellites
It's wrong to wish on space hardware
I wish I wish I wish you

c
    a 
      r
        e
          d

I almost picked this one

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: artbrooks
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 11:06 AM

"Taps" will do just fine.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 11:09 AM

I want the bearers of the coffin at my funeral to sing "He ain't heavy he's my brother"

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 11:13 AM

Til the Followin' Night by Screaming Lord Sutch

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: iancarterb
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 11:33 AM

"All is Well," Sacred Harp page 122. We are an old enough Shape Note group to have sung a few of our members out of this life, and most of us would choose this one for our friends to sing at whatever party we may provoke by our passing.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 11:50 AM

I have known since 1972 what I want played as I go into the fire.

"Sweet Dreams", by Roy Buchanan, the finest piece of guitar playing by the finest ever guitar player .

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Mr Fox
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 12:32 PM

Gotta be His Bobness of Dylan for me........

Oh all the money that in my whole life I did spend,
Be it mine right or wrongfully,
I let it slip gladly past the hands of my friends
To tie up the time most forcefully.
But the bottles are done,
We've killed each one
And the table's full and overflowed.
And the corner sign
Says it's closing time,
So I'll bid farewell and be down the road.

Oh ev'ry girl that ever I've touched,
I did not do it harmfully.
And ev'ry girl that ever I've hurt,
I did not do it knowin'ly.
But to remain as friends and make amends
You need the time and stay behind.
And since my feet are now fast
And point away from the past,
I'll bid farewell and be down the line.

Oh ev'ry foe that ever I faced,
The cause was there before we came.
And ev'ry cause that ever I fought,
I fought it full without regret or shame.
But the dark does die
As the curtain is drawn and somebody's eyes
Must meet the dawn.
And if I see the day
I'd only have to stay,
So I'll bid farewell in the night and be gone.

Oh, ev'ry thought that's strung a knot in my mind,
I might go insane if it couldn't be sprung.
But it's not to stand naked under unknowin' eyes,
It's for myself and my friends my stories are sung.
But the time ain't tall,
Yet on time you depend and no word is possessed
By no special friend.
And though the line is cut,
It ain't quite the end,
I'll just bid farewell till we meet again.

Oh a false clock tries to tick out my time
To disgrace, distract, and bother me.
And the dirt of gossip blows into my face,
And the dust of rumors covers me.
But if the arrow is straight
And the point is slick,
It can pierce through dust no matter how thick.
So I'll make my stand
And remain as I am
And bid farewell and not give a damn.

Or maybe the original. First verse, anyway.

Of all the money e'er I had, I spent it in good company;
And all the harm I've ever done, alas was done to none but me;
And all I've done for want of wit, to memory now I can't recall,
So fill me to the parting glass, goodnight and joy be with you all.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 12:36 PM

The Hokey Cokey

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: topical tom
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 01:35 PM

"How Great Thou Art".

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Micca
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 01:39 PM

The one that includes the lines
"No Church in gloom No solemn tune No po faced Priest to moan
Go to the pub and lift a glass And my friends can sing me home"

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Smokey.
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 01:53 PM

'Jollity Farm' performed by the immortal Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Dave Earl
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 01:55 PM

This one:-

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

'Tis mystery all: th'Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father's throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race:
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

For the following reasons :-

1 It makes for a damn good sing - thank you Charles Wesley
2 I was raised as a Methodist (now lapsed) and it has been sung at every family funeral I've been to.
3 "My chains fell off" has particular relevance for me ( long illness in various family members )
4 as 1 above

Dave

Dave

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Santa
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 02:11 PM

Who knows where the time goes.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: JP2
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 02:13 PM

No question "Always look on the bright side of life".

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: meself
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 02:28 PM

Hmmm - I do know that I want a chorus-girl to sing me one last song; I'm just not sure which one. Which song, that is. Guess I'll leave it up to her.

Oh, and by the way, on my hearse, if it's not too much to ask, I'd like a jazz-band playing - just to raise a little hell as we roll along.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Irene M
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 02:30 PM

"Quitting Time" by The Roches

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 02:36 PM

At Malcolm Douglas' funeral the final song was 'Linden Lea' set by Vaughan-Williams. Malc's choice. Beautifully played by Skyhook (I believe) and sung equally beautifully by Tegwen Roberts. I was so moved that three months later I had the same thing played at my Dad's funeral. Perfect.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 03:12 PM

Sam Hall.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: SuperKrone
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 03:18 PM

Air moves us, fire transforms us,
water shapes us, earth heals us
And the balance of the wheel goes round and round
And the balance of the wheel goes round

By Cathleen Sheil, Moonsea and Prune of RECLAIMING

and

"Hymn to Her"

AND [WE] WILL ALWAYS CARRY ON
SOMETHING IS LOST
BUT SOMETHING IS FOUND
[WE] WILL KEEP ON SPEAKING HER NAME
SOME THINGS CHANGE, SOME STAY THE SAME


by Chrisy Hines and The Pretenders

Whatever it may do for people at my memorial service,
imagining these being sung comforts me now.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 03:20 PM

"Goodnight Irene"

I'm serious.

Art

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Artful Codger
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 03:37 PM

"O Bury Me Not": I'd rather be cremated.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Bettynh
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 03:40 PM

If my son would sing it and substitute "she" for "Lee" I'd like this one:

In Dead Earnest

If I should die before I wake
All my bone and sinew take
Put them in the compost pile
To decompose a little while
Sun, rain and worms will have their way
Reducing me to common clay
All that I am will feed the trees
And little fishes in the seas
When corn and radishes you munch
You may be having me for lunch
The excrete me with a grin
Chortling, There goes Lee again
'Twill be my happiest destiny
To die and live eternally
       Lee Hays, 1981

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 03:58 PM

John Tams with Home Service 'Look Up, Look Up' - I am of course being optimistic! Must have the guitar solo at the end too

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 04:00 PM

It's worth realizing that a thread like this is a real record -- Linden Lea (as well as Lay Down your Weary Tune) got played at Malcolm Douglas's funeral because he had posted in this previous thread on the topic:

What song do you want at your funeral? (24 Feb 01)

I've got no personal selection to offer... yet.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: sing4peace
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 05:24 PM

From Way Up Here - Malvina Reynolds

From way up here, the earth is very small
it's just a little ball
of rock and sea and sand
no bigger than my hand.

From way up here, the earth is very small
they shouldn't fight at all down there
upon that little sphere

Their time is short
A life is just a day
You'd think they'd find a way
You'd think they'd get along
And fill their magic days with song....

From way up here, the earth is very small
it's just a little ball so small
so beautiful and clear.

Their time is short
A life is just a day
Must be a better way
To use the time that runs
Among the distant suns.

From way up here the earth is very small
it's just a little ball so small
so beautiful and dear.

From way up here the earth is very small
it's just a little ball
of rock and sea and sand
No bigger than my hand.

-----------

Also, Phil Och's "When I'm Gone"
Sally Rogers' "We'll pass them on"
Traditional: This Little Light of Mine


Hopefully, not anytime soon.

Joyce K.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: kendall
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 05:43 PM

Turning toward the morning by Gordon Bok

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 06:17 PM

Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye - AND I want everyone to wave!

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: SuperKrone
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 09:21 PM

Or how about this?

"Please don't bury me down in the cold, cold ground--
I's rather have you cut me up, and pass me all around.
Throw my brain in the hurricane, the blind can have my eyes,
And the deaf can have both of my ears, if they don't mind the size."

Alas, most of my parts will be too shopworn for reuse!

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Amergin
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 09:57 PM

Dead Kennedys doing Viva Las Vegas

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Padre
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 10:25 PM

I've asked for two:

"Abide With Me"

"Adoro Devote" - the Benedictine Plainsong melody
for the Requiem Mass

Padre

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 10:35 PM

Geeshie Wiley--Pick Poor Robin Clean

(my second choice)

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Bruce D
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 10:43 PM

Grey Funnel Line (full version) & Naval Hymn also a medly of Shanty tunes.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Midchuck
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 10:54 PM

Kendall said:

Turning toward the morning by Gordon Bok

That's what my mother said in '05.

And you know, I got through it. The song carried me.

Peter.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: PSzymeczek
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 11:30 PM

John Prine - "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore"

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 03:16 AM

Perhaps "Little Boxes" would be appropriate........

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Gurney
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 04:02 AM

Haven't decided, myself, but Her Indoors wants 'The Circle of Life' from Disney's 'The Lion King.'

Poignantly, we bury my pal on Wednesday. Makes you think. He's only 51.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Will Fly
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 04:52 AM

A natural burial place for me - one just down the road from us, at Clayton in Sussex, which I and herself have earmarked for when we go. Bamboo or similar degradable box, buried near to a tree, wooden marker only - all of which rots away naturally and gives back to the earth some of what we took from it in being.

As to a song, I think it might have to be a small pipes man playing "The Wild Hills Of Whannies". But I might change my mind in the next 30 years or so...

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: erosconpollo
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 07:03 AM

Almost certainly something by myself. I'm not going to waste the last audience I'll ever have.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 07:30 AM

A banjo playing friend of mine wants "Edelweiss" because he can't stand it and he won't be there to listen to it. On the same basis I'm going to have the "Lord of the damp settee" song.
Ray

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,buspassed
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 07:32 AM

As that well known piece of R2 cricket commentary fades away [Jonners, he couldn't quite get his leg over/Oh do stop it Aggers!] I shall disappear through the final curtain to the wonderful 'Gloryland' by Waterson:Carthy. As an almost non-believer I don't think hedging my bets on a final destination should be held against me!

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,Wheatman
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 07:42 AM

Derwentwater's Fairwell played on the small pipes or English Concertina as they put my ashes on the Straw Bear bonfire. Not very green, I know